Fuselage Look
Model years | 1969-1973 |
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Assembly | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
Body style | 2-door hardtop 4-door sedan 4-door hardtop |
Platform | C-body |
Engine | 440 cu in (7.2 L) Wedgehead V8 |
Transmission | 3-speed TorqueFlite A727 automatic |
Wheelbase | 127.0 in (3,226 mm) |
Length | 1969-71: 229.7 in (5,834 mm) 1972: 229.5 in (5,829 mm) 1973: 235.3 in (5,977 mm) |
Width | 1969-71: 79.1 in (2,009 mm) 1972-73: 79.6 in (2,022 mm) |
Height | 1969-70: 55.7 in (1,415 mm) 1971: 56.1 in (1,425 mm) 1972: 56.0 in (1,422 mm) 1973: 56.2 in (1,427 mm) |
Curb weight | 4,900–5,200 lb (2,200–2,400 kg) |
Related | Chrysler 300 Chrysler New Yorker Chrysler Newport |
Designer(s) | Elwood Engel |
The "Fuselage Look" was how Chrysler described its new styling in 1969. Instead of the square lines of 1964-68, the new Imperials featured rounded "tumblehome" sides, bulging at the belt line, and tucking in down to the rocker panels. The new styling not only made the cars look longer and wider, it also surrounded the passengers in a hull-like fashion, similar to an aircraft, hence the reference to "fuselage". The curved side glass, which had been pioneered in America by Imperial in 1957, had a much tighter radius, while the increased curvature of the bodysides permitted the window frames to be moved outboard at their bases, resulting in an increase in shoulder room without an increase in overall body width compared to the previous C-body. In fact, front and rear shoulder room increased from 59.4 in (1,509 mm) to 62.7 in (1,593 mm) on 4-door hardtops.
To reduce development and tooling costs, and bring overall expenditures more in line with actual sales, Imperial was forced to share much of its bodyshell with Chrysler for the first time since 1956. Consequently, front and rear doors, quarter panels, decklids, glass, and roofs were common with the lowliest Chrysler Newport. In other respects, however, little had changed; construction was still unibody, the wheelbase was still stretched 3.0 in (76 mm) longer than a Chrysler's in front of the passenger section, the engine and transmission were the same, and the torsion bar front suspension was still used.
Read more about this topic: Imperial (automobile)